The World Health Organisation has raised its warning level for swine flu from 4 to 5. The decision has come after news that the flu has so far been detected in nine countries.
The raising of the level aims to make people aware of taking extra hygiene measure to avoid illness. Research has proved that the wearing of facial masks is redundant as spores are small enough to seep through.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is conscious that the warning should not insight panic among the public rather increase the level of awareness thereby creating a better defence to fight the bug.

The first victim of the illness was a 39-year-old Mexican woman who was sent by mystified doctors from clinic to clinic for eight days before she finally died in hospital. She thought she had pneumonia. The truth about her illness was not discovered until 10 days after her death. The Virus has now killed 159 people across Mexico.

WHO are remaining positive however, with WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan saying, “Preparedness measures undertaken because of the threat from H5N1 avian influenza were an investment, and we are now benefiting from this investment. For the first time in history, we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real-time.”

He added: “I am impressed by the work being done by affected countries as they deal with the current outbreaks.”

To date the United States has reported 91 laboratory confirmed human cases with one death and the following countries have reported laboratory cases with no deaths; Austria (1), Canada (13), Germany (3), Israel (2), New Zealand (3), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (5).

A maximum scale 6 pandemic has not been seen since the 60’s in Hong Kong.
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